March
The colony successfully made it through the second portion of winter! The bees could still benefit from some additional food to get through the coming weeks and into the full swing of foraging season! So a mixture of honey and sugar was added to the top of the hive, taking care not to release any heat by leaving one of two covers in place.
April
A new colony of bees were installed and they are getting accustomed to their new space. Over the next few days they will work to chew through the candy stopper in their queen’s cage, to release her. She will begin laying eggs that in three weeks will hatch as new worker bees. Queens can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day! Workers will be busy feeding their new brood, cleaning their new home, and collecting pollen and nectar when available.
The overwintered colony is still alive and well! The brood nest was moved back down to the bottom and created plenty of room to grow.